Veronica A. Cruz

VERONICA ALOJIPAN CRUZ – Loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend
Veronica Cruz was born on July 9, 1937 in Culasi, Antique in the Philippines, to Anacoreta Cabangon Alojipan and Enrique Alojipan Sr. She was one of eleven children with brothers Simeon, Enrique Jr., Rustico, Edilberto, Teodolfo and Dalmacio, and sisters Esperanza, Magdalena, Leticia and Virginia.
As a young girl, she and her family survived the Japanese military invasion of the Philippines during World War II by hiding in the mountains.
She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1961, and first went to work as an RN at a small navy hospital for one year before moving on to V. Luna General Hospital, a large military hospital in Quezon City, Philippines.
While working as an army nurse, in 1965 she stole the heart of Lazaro "Larry" Cruz, whom she married a year later on May 1, 1966.
In 1967, determined to start a better life, she immigrated to the United States where she began work at a hospital in New Jersey. She had arrived in the states alone, but 6 months later, Larry and their young son Raymund joined her on August 11, 1968, her son's first birthday.
In 1969, she and her family moved to Michigan where she worked at Metropolitan Hospital in Detroit. In 1970, she took a job at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where she faithfully worked until illness forced her to retire in 1990.
She had a generous spirit, and often helped her siblings and extended family in the Philippines when they needed assistance, and even sponsored many to immigrate to the U.S.
She loved to cook, visit relatives, go fishing, tend to her garden, crochet and sew, but her favorite pastime was playing blackjack and sharing funny stories during the many family get-togethers.
Veronica is survived by her beloved husband Larry and son Raymund, his wife Aileen (DeOca) and their daughter Kylie; daughter Gemma and her husband Michael Whitt and their son Conner; son Rex and his wife Renee (Monacel) and children Marcus, Jade, Adrianna, Cameron, Paxton and Benjamin. She will also be missed by her vast network of nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, classmates, co-workers and friends. She is predeceased by her beloved grandson, one of the many great blessings in her life, Joshua D. Whitt.
Family will receive friends Thursday, 4pm-8pm with a Rosary service 7pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers and Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, (248) 549-0500.
Funeral Mass Friday, Noon at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica (2100 12 Mile Rd, Royal Oak). Visitation at church begins 11:30am.
Interment at White Chapel Cemetery.
Family suggests memorial tributes to Alzheimer's Association, Greater Michigan Chapter, 20300 Civic Center Dr., Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076.